noun / measure word HSK 2
Traditional 聲
sound · voice · tone · a measure word for sounds
Meaning
声 refers to any kind of sound, noise, or voice. It can describe audible phenomena from nature, people, or objects. As a measure word, it counts instances of sounds or utterances.
Usage
Commonly used in both spoken and written Mandarin. Often appears in compound words related to sound and speech. As a measure word, it's used with verbs like 说 (to say) or 叫 (to call/shout), e.g., 叫了一声 (shouted once).
Examples
- 01我听到外面有奇怪的声音。.I heard a strange sound outside.
- 02他大声叫了我一声。.He called out to me loudly.
Measure words
- 声听见一声巨响
Common collocations
- 大声loudly, in a loud voice
- 小声quietly, in a low voice
- 一声不响without a sound, silently
- 掌声applause
Antonyms
Origin
The traditional form 聲 is a compound character showing 耳 (ear) and components suggesting sound production. The simplified form 声 retains the phonetic element.